ProTRAC--a software for probabilistic piRNA cluster detection, visualization and analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Throughout the metazoan lineage, typically gonadal expressed Piwi proteins and their guiding piRNAs (~26-32nt in length) form a protective mechanism of RNA interference directed against the propagation of transposable elements (TEs). Most piRNAs are generated from genomic piRNA clusters. Annotation of experimentally obtained piRNAs from small RNA/cDNA-libraries and detection of genomic piRNA clusters are crucial for a thorough understanding of the still enigmatic piRNA pathway, especially in an evolutionary context. Currently, detection of piRNA clusters relies on bioinformatics rather than detection and sequencing of primary piRNA cluster transcripts and the stringency of the methods applied in different studies differs considerably. Additionally, not all important piRN

SUBMITTER: Rosenkranz D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3293768 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature